Safety match package



April 26, 1938. I J E RQMANQ 2,115,540

SAFETY MATCH PACKAGE Filed May 12, 1957 Indeni'of: J5hn1 7R0rrwnQ.

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 i 2,,lill5,5.iti sarnrr Maren PAiUliMGlE .llohn Romano, Weathcrlly, Pa. Application li/liayll2, littt, Serial No. lidhllilli ii Ciaims.

My invention relates to a new and useful safety match package and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a unique device of this character simulating the well known book type of match package but having the match sheets pivoted between the frontand back covers of the case or book.

In accordance with one feature of my invention, one end of the covers of the case or book projects beyond the adjacent end of the other cover to provide a surface for reception of an abrasive which will be concealed and cannot be contacted while the match sheets are exposed, thus reducing toa minimum the chances of a'person being burned due to igniting the remaining matches when purposely striking one of them.

In accordance with another'feature of my invention one or more sheets of matches are pivoted at one end by one leg of a. staple which fastens the covers of the case together while the other leg of staple functions as a stop to limit the inward or closing movement of the match sheet or sheets and to provide the latter with a tab or tabs for withdrawing the match sheet or sheets.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may'understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its con struction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:--- a Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the safety match package constructed in accordance with my invention and shown in a closed position or condition.

Fig. 2 is a face view of thesame with a numger of match sheets shown 'in an outer position.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodled, It] represents the case or book which is formed from an elongated sheet of stiff paper, cardboard or the like. folded upon itself to provide a back cover II and a front cover H, the latter being shorter than the former to leave an extension I 3 projecting beyond the adjacent end of the front cover. This extension l3 has an abrasive M on its front face which is the surface facing the front cover.

Between the covers are positioned one or more 911. tiltw) match sheets it of paper or fibrous material fashioned to provide a connecting strip it and integral splints ill which have heads it that can be ignited by drawing them across the abrasive A staple it passes through both covers of the case or book at one corner of the front cover to hold said covers in position and one of the legs of said staple passes through one corner of each match sheet or one .end of the connecting'strip 10 to pivotally mount the match sheet or sheets relative to the covers or in the case. The other leg of the staple is engaged bye. side edge of each match sheet to limit the inward or retracting movements thereof and prevent withdrawal of a in match sheet through a side of the case or book.

In order to facilitate withdrawal of a match sheet from the case or book each match sheet is provided with a tab projecting from the end of the connecting strip opposite the pivot and Sltlch tab is a continuation of said connecting s rip. The end of the case or book opposite the fold is open for the extraction and retraction of the match sheets and since the abrasive is adjacent this open end whenever a match sheet is withdrawn from the case or book this abrasive will be concealed by the protruding match sheet. After the match sheet is withdrawn from the case a match may be torn off but the remainder of the match sheet must be replaced in order to uncover the abrasive before the match can be ignited by the use of the abrasive, therefore the lighting of said match cannot cause the others on the match sheet or sheets to be ignited. This is a safety feature not found in ordinary book matches where it is possible to ignite one match while 'others are uncovered, often resulting in injury to the person or damage to property.

of course I do not wish to be limited to the 40 exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I 5 claim as new and useful is:--

1. A safety'match package including a case consisting of a sheet of material folded upon itself to provide front and back covers with the end of the front cover opposite the fold termi- 5 nating short of the adjacent end of the back cover leaving a normally exposed extension a match sheet pivoted within the-case and adapted to be withdrawn from the case between the ends of the covers, and an abrasive on the front face of the exposed extensionof said back cover and concealed by the match sheet when the latter is withdrawn.

2. A safety match package comprising a case consisting of front and back covers spaced apart and providing an open end to the case, an extension projecting from the back cover beyond the open end, an abrasive on the front face of said extension, and match sheets pivoted at one corner within the case and withdrawable through the open end and adapted to conceal the abrasive when any of said match sheets are withdrawn.

3. A safety match package comprising a case consisting of a back and a front cover folded from a sheet of paper, a staple passing through said covers to hold them together, match sheets pivoted on one of the legs of said staple whereby said metal sheets may be swung into and out of the unfolded end of the case, the other leg of said staple acting as a stop for the match sheets as they engage said last named leg during retraction thereof, a tab on the side of each match sheet opposite the pivot point, a longitudinal extension on the unfolded end of the back cover, and an abrasive on the front face of said extension which is exposed for use while the match sheets are within the case and concealed by any one of said match sheets when withdrawn from the case.

JOHN F. ROMANO. 

